Envelop-machine



H. LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I7, 1917.

1,343, 1 46.. Patented June 8, 1920..

6 SHEETSSHEET I.

Fig.1-

INVENTOR WITN SSES H; LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUGJI, 19H.

Patented June 8, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7, 1911.

WITNE ES Q L A-Ll H. LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION mzo Auem. 1911.

Patented June 8, 1920.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4- H. LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1917.

1 343 14% Patented June 8 192%,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNE ES H. LEVINE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. 1917.

Patented J 11116 8 19% 6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

IN VENTO R WITN ESSE Nrrso sr TEE UFFEQE.

ENVELOP-MAGHINE.

1 are, me.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY LEVINE, re-

siding at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to envelop machines and particularly to thatclass employed in the manufacture of what are known in the art as windowenvelops.

The invention is principally found in an improved method and mechanismfor feeding the blank and regulating its movement through the machinewhereby the window opening in the blank will be accurately andpositively presented to the patch applying mechanism so as to uniformlyinsure an application of the patch over said opening. The inventionalso'consists in the provision of a patch applying mechanism which willpositively obviate the necessity of penetrating the patch by amechanical gripping means so as to set up greater accuracy in thedelivery of the cut patch to the assembling means and at the same timewarrant a positive delivery of said patch to said assembling means.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of patchapplying mecha nism of a design which will cause patches of fixed anddetermined lengths to be severed from the supply roll and uniformlydelivered in successive order to the assembling means, from which latterpoint, the patches are intended to be singly presented to the envelopblanks as they are correspondingly fed in successive order through themachine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of theclass specified in which the performance or operation of applyingtransparent patches to window envelop blanks can be completed withrapidity, absolute accuracy and with the assistance of a minimum manualassistance.

Another feature of the invention resides in the combination between aspecific blank collecting and feeding mechanism and an especiallydesigned patch applying mechanism, care being exercised in the selectionof such mechanisms which need not be associated with delicate anduncertain accessories for timing the movement of the blank relatively ofthe patch and at the same time always resulting in a true alinement ofthe patch with the opening of the blank.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed August 17, 1917. Serial No. 186,795.

Another object of the invention resides in the arrangement of parts inwhich the machine as a whole will be extremely compact so as to take upcomparatively little floor space.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans for elfecting an even distribution of the blanks to the deliveringmechanism, devices being employed to cause the same to be conveyed fromthe blank collecting mechanism in true alinement with the patchassembling means at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement in whichthe blanks are fed lengthwise through the machine, associating suchmechanism with patch ap plying means which will operate to graduallyadvance the front end of the patch over the window opening in the blankand successively cause the patch to be fully applied to the blank. Inthis manner, I find that remarkable uniformity in the application of thepatch to the opening results and the employment of complicated adjustingmechanism for establishing such alinement of the patch with the openingcan be entirely dispensed with.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the patch cutting and applying mechanismshowing parts in full lines.

Fig. Sis a section through the operating cam for the oscillating arm ofthe patch applying and cutting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the gumming member.

Fig. 8 is a section therethrough showing the same associated with itsco-acting cylinder.

co-acting roll and the operating gearing therefor.

Fig. 9 is a side View} Of the guard and No invention is claimed for thespecific manner of mounting those elements or instrumentalities whichconstitute my 1mprovements and the specifying of such parts as thesupporting frame will only be done in a general way. This is preferredfor the reason that I do not Wish to limit myself to any particular formof frame as the design thereof is wholly immaterial for my purpose.Therefore, a suitable frame is indicated generally at 12, the samehaving a driven shaft 13, journaled in its respective side pieces 14 and15, which is fixedly mounted on a blank collecting cylinder 16, the samecarrying a conventional gripping mechanism 17, of any improved wellknown construction which will operate, first to positively grip theblank and then secondly release itself therefrom automatically aftersaid blank is carried part way around the cylinder. This collectingcylinder is associated with blank guiding and alining plates 1818, whichare arranged in spaced parallel relation so that the extreme edges ofthe bottom and top flap of the blank can be brought into sliding contactwith the inner faces ofsaid plates and thereby prevent any tendency ofthe blank to shift laterally from its intended alinement in the machine.This feature of the invention is one of importance as I rely upon thisarrangement to insure alinement of the Window opening in the blank withthe patch as the latter is delivered from the patch applying mechanismas will be described in more detail hereinafter. These plates are ofarcuate form and I extend part way around the cylinder, their front endsterminating in relatively close proximity to a pressing and feed roll19,

which is also journaled to revolve in said frame 12. This roll co-actswith the cylinder 16, in order that the blank may be initially fed tofirst the gumming mechanism and then the assembling means.

Designed to co-act with the blank collecting cylinder is a rocker 20,having an effective lifting end 21, to which a suction tube 22, leads inorder that suction may be induced at said lifting end to cause theblanks to be successively lifted from the stack and presented to thegripper 17 of said. cylinder 16. The cylinder is therefore recessed at23, for the purpose of accommodating said end, 21, of the arm 20, wherebthe forward edge of the patch may be freely grasped by the gripper 17,as the cylinder revolves.

The arrangement herein illustrated is such that the blanks are intendedto be fed lengthwise through the machine with the longltudinal axis ofthe window opening parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine.The gumming mechanism consists of a driven shaft 24, on which Wheels25-25, are fixedly mounted and between which the gummer member 26, issecured. This member may also be of any well known design and is intended to co-act with a roll 27, which is grooved at 28, in order thatthe gumming strip or surface 29, of said member 26, can be accommodatedand the gum thereby held out of contact with the surface of the rollwhen the machine is running Without the feeding of blanks therethrough.Supported from the frame 12, is a gum tray 30, in which is mounted, arevolving roll 31, which is arranged in operative contact with a similarroll 32, whereby the gum which is taken on to the roll 31, will in turn,be taken up by the roll 32, where it will be finally delivered to thegumming member 26, through the fact that said roll 32, is arranged tocontact therewith as it revolves.

Driven shafts 33 and 34, are fixedly supported from the frame 12, andeach has mounted thereon, a suitable number of rolls 35. The rolls ofthe shaft 33, are arranged in co-acting contact with the rolls on theshaft 34, the point of contact being along a direct line with thepassage of the envelop blank through the machine and said rolls thereforoperate to advance the blank in the direction of the patch applyingmechanism at the opposite end of the machine.

superposed guard strips 36 and 37, extend longitudinally through themachine and as illustrated in Fig. 4, said strips are spaced relativelyto permit the envelop blank to freely pass therebetween. These stripsare designed to hold the blank against vertical derangement during itsperiod of movement from the blank collecting cylinder to the patchapplying mechanism. The gumming member 26, is grooved at 38, toaccommodate itself to the upper strip 37, as shown in Fig. 8. At a pointdirectly above the roll 27, said strip 37, is provided with an arcuatereduced section 39, so that the groove 38, in the surface 29, need notentirely traverse said surface.

The shaft 13, on which the blank collecting cylinder is mounted isprovided with a cam 40, which co-acts with a roller 41, on anoscillating arm 42. The said arm is bifurcated at 43, to accommodate theshaft 13, and on reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that one of thebranches of the bifurcated portion is connected with a retractile spring44,.by means of which the roller 41, is actively held against said cam40. A bell crank lever 45, is pivoted at 46, to a bracket 47, whichextends from the frame 12. This bell crank lever has its arm 48,operatively connected at 49, with the oscillating arm 42. The arm 50, ofsaid lever, supports a revolving pressing roll 51, which co-acts withthe cylinder 16, to hold the blank in active contact with said cylinderwhen the gripper 17, is released from the blank. The association of theroll 51, with. the cylinder 16,

and guard plates 1818, is such that the blank is secured againstpossible derangement and as a consequence, the blank, when delivered tothe feeding mechanism of the machine, will be arranged with its windowopening in proper alinement with the severed patch as the latter isdelivered from the vpatch applying mechanism. The cam 40, is so desi nedthat as long as the gripper 17, is in con nement with the envelop blank,the roller 51, is out of contact with the cylinder 16, but as stated, as-soon as the gripper is released from the blank, the roller 51, isefiectively advanced against the cylinder 16, for the purpose set forth.

The patch applying and assembling mechanism, consists of feed rolls 52,and 53, between which the transparent paper 54, is adapted to pass fromits reel 55. From the rolls 52 and 53, the transparent paper passesbetween the shear blades 56 and 57. The blade 57, is fixedly mountedupon a stand 58', which rises from the frame 12. The other blade 56, ismovably mounted and is designed to co-act with the fixed blade to severportions of the paper to form suitable patches for application over theopenings in the envelop blanks. volubly supported from the stand 58, andis adapted to co-act with a similar superposed roller 60, which ismounted to slide on the frame 61, of the blade 56. A spring 62, on theframe 61, is arranged to bear against the mounting 63, from which theroller 60, is supported whereby the latter is adapted to yieldrelatively of the roller 59, when the two are in active co-actingcontact. The rollers 59 and 60, are disposed immediately in advance ofthe shear blades and as they are supported from said blades, it followsthat when the latter are separated for the passage of a predeterminedlength of transparent paper therethrough, the rolls are correspondinglyseparated, so as to not obstruct the free passage of the paper. Anysuitable well known mechanism may be employed for moving the shear blade56 and its roll 60 with relation to the co-acting blade 57 and its roll59 and for properly timing such movement. Such mechanism is convenientlyillustrated at A. However, when the shear blades are advanced relativelyto sever the paper, the rolls 59 and 60, will be brought into pinchingcontact with the paper and the requisite length of the latter severed ina uniform and accurate manner at all times.

From the rolls 59 and 60, the transparent paper passes into a conduit64, the latter being fixedly mounted between said rolls and rolls 65 and66, the former constituting a part of what I have described, anassembling means. The roll 66, is supported to revolve in the arms 67,fixed to a shaft 68, which is adapted to oscillate. This shaft is Aroller 59, is reprovided at one end with a fixed arm 69,

which is pivoted at 70, to an oscillating arm 71. This arm is providedwith a bifurcated end 72, which is received by a driven shaft 73, thelatter carrying the cam 74, which coacts with a roller 75, on theoscillating arm 71. A spring 76, is operatively connected with the arm71,.whereby to hold the roller 75, in active contact with the cam. Thesaid shaft 73, supports rolls 76-76', and an intermediate disk 77, thewidth of the latter being preferably greater than the width of the rolls76-76', and as shown, its peripheral surface is arranged in coactingrelation with the roller 65.' The said rolls 76'76, and 77, togetherwith the roller 65, constitutes the assembling means which functionatesto permit the blank and patch to be finally associated with each other.

A rocking shaft '78, on the frame 12, is provided with a bracket 79, inwhich a pressing roll 80, is journaled to revolve. This roller isarranged in yielding contact with the roller 65, so that as the severedpatch is discharged from the conduit 64, and beneath the roll 66, itwill be fed first between said roll 65, and the adjacent roll 80, andthen between the said roll 65, and the intermediate disk 77, the latterthus serying as a bed against which the blank is firmly supported as thesevered patch is in course of point approximately between the rolls 65,and 66, so as to receive the patch there-' under as the same leaves theconduit 64. A similar lower extension 85, is provided on said guide andthe same terminates between the said roll 65, and the intermediate disk7 7, whereby the structure continues to guide the patch accurately inthe presence of the blank as the latter is fed through the machine.

Having described the essential structural features of the invention, theoperation thereof is described as follows :l3lanks are arranged in stackform beneath the oscillating member 20, the latter, it being understood,may be of any suitable well known construction which will operate topneumatically lift one blank at a time and present the same to thegripper 17. As stated, the blanks are intended to be fed lengthwisethrough the machine and is thus intended to take hold of one of the endflaps of the blank. As the cylinder 16, revolves, the blank is carriedbetween the straightening or alining plates 18-18,

the gripper 17,

where the extreme ends of the bottom and sealing fiaps of the blank areintended to freely glide over the inner surfaces of said plates. Thegripper 17, releases its hold upon the blank as soon as it passes thepressing roll 51.- The pressing roll is then automatically advanced intopressing contact with the blank and the latter continues to feed, firstupward over the c linder 16, and then under the front end of t e upperguard strip 37, and thence between the cylinder 16, and said roll 19. Aspreviously stated, the gumming mechanism is of any suitable well knowndesign which will ermit of the introduction successively of lanksthereto in order that the marginal surfaces of the window openingstherein, can be supplied with gum ready for the receipt of thetransparent patches thereto. From the gumming mecha nism, the blankscontinue to move through the instrumentalities elsewhere described,where they are singly brought between the roll 65, and the mating rolls7676 and 77. At this point, it will be observed that as the blank passesbetween said roll 65, and the disks 7 67 6, and 7 7 a previously severedpatch will have been fed through the applying mechanism and presented tothe blank whereby what is termed the front end of the patch in thisinstance, will be uniformly brought over the front end of the windowopening. As the blank continues, it is seen that the patch as it is fedfrom the applying mechanism, will also continue to move until it iswholly arranged in firm contact with the marginal gummed surface aroundthe window opening. The rolling contact of the roll 65, against thepatch and blank and the association of the roll 65, with theintermediate disk 77, are features of importance which I desire toparticularly emphasize, as through the arrangement, it is found that thepatch is more evenly applied to the said gummed surface around the win--dow opening.

The construction of the patch severing and applying mechanism is suchthat any obvious and well known means can be employed for actuating theshear blade 56, according to the length of the patch desired, it beingunderstood that the arrangement herein provided is such that patches arecut in predetermined lengths according to the sizes of the windowopenings. Therefore, as the transparent material passes between therolls 52 and 53, it is fed for a fixed length through the shear blades56 and 57, until the front end of the patch is brought over the roll 65.At this instant, the arm 71, will have been actuated to cause the roller66, to be advanced yieldingly against the patch and simultaneously withthis operation, the shear blades will have been adjusted to cuttingpositions. Also at this instant, the impinging rolls 59 and 60, will bebrought into impinging contact with the transparent paper of theadvanced length which constitutes the patch so as to hold the samemomentarily during the cutting operation. In this way, the patches canbe cut accurately, in rapid successive order and uniformly delivered tothe assembling means to be presented to the blanks as they are fedthrough the machine. After the blanks, with theirapplied patches aredelivered from between the roll 65, and the said rolls 76--76', and 77,they are taken between delivery rolls 83'-83, and finally discharged atthe adjacent end of the machine.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 13, inclusiveof the drawings, I have substituted a revolving segment 86, for theoscillating roll 66, else where described herein. This segment isfixedly mounted on a revolving shaft 87, having a fixed gear wheel 88,arranged in mesh with a gear wheel 89, on the shaft 90. This shaftcarries a roll 91, which is the same as the roll 65, in the firstdescribed form of the invention and over which the patch is adapted tobe fed as it is discharged from the severing mechanism. The revolving ofthe segment 86, in the presence of the roll 91, functionates in the samemanner as the oscillatory roll 66. The dotted line illustration of thesegment shown in Fig. 11, is intended to illustrate its relation to thepatch conduit 92, when the patch is about to pass on to the roll 91. Thefull line position represents the relation of parts necessary for theactive introduction of the severed patch between the roll 91, and theco-acting disk 93. This disk is the same as the disk 77, described inthe first embodiment of the invention and is associated with a patchguiding frame 94, whereby the severed patch will be operatively conveyedbetween said roll 91, and the mentioned disk 93, to catch up with thepatch as the latter enters between said parts. The frame 94, is alsoassociated with a pressing roll 95, which operates to yieldingly advance.the patch in active feeding contact against the roll 91. The said roll95, is supported from a rocking shaft 96, which is normally actuatedunder the tension of a spring 97 to hold the roll 95, against said roll91. The

shaft 90, has its gear 89, in mesh with a larger gear 98, on the shaft99, of the disk 93.

This modified arrangement of the device is associated with cuttingshears 100, and 101, which are identical with those described in saidfirst embodiment of the invention. These shears also include impingingrolls 102 and 103, which are associated therewith so as to be applied inpinching contact with the transparent paper immediately at the time ofthe severing opera tion.

What I claim is:

1. In patch feeding mechanism for winhaving a reei'procatorymovementwithre lation to the first.

2. In patch feeding mechanism for window envelop machines, means forsupporting a roll of patch material, means for unreeling the patchmaterial, severing mechanism for cutting the material, and means foryieldingly gripping the material during the severing operation, thesevering mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable knives, thegripping means including co-acting rollers carried by said knives.

3. In patch feeding mechanism for window envelop machines, means forsupporting a roll of patch material, means for unreeling the patchmaterial, severing mechanism for cutting the material, and means foryieldingly gripping the material during the severing operation, thesevering mechanism comprising a pair of relatively mov able knives, thegripping means including co-acting rollers carried by said knives andarranged in parallel relation to the cutting edges of said knives.

4. In patch feeding mechanism for window envelop machines, means forsupport ing a roll of patch material, means for unreeling the patchmaterial, severing mechanism for cutting the material, and means foryieldingly gripping the material during the severing operation, saidgripping means including a pair of co-acting elastic rolls normallyseparated out of gripping relation to each other and adapted to bebrought into gripping relation with each other.

5. In patch feeding mechanism for window envelop machines, means forsupportw ing a roll of patch material, means for unreeliiig the patchmaterial, severing mechanism tor cutting the material, and means foryieldingly gripping the niaterial luring the severing operation, saidmechanism iii- "cliidiiigwpair OfiltlittbVQlY movable knives,

the gripping means including a pair of coactiiig elastic rolls carriedby the knives of said severing mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsevering patches from a roll of patch material, intermittent means forgrasping the free end of a patch prior to operation of said severingmeans, and intermittent means between said severing means and the firstsaid intermittent means and operable for gripping said patch .near theline of severance during operation of said severing means.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsevering patches from a roll of patch material, intermittent means forgrasping the free end of a patch prior to operation of said severingmeans and for feeding severed patches to position for application toenvelop blanks, and intermittent means between said severing means andthe first said intermittent means and operable for gripping said patchnear the line of severance during operation of said severing means.

In testimony whereof I ailix mysignature.

HARRY LEVINE.

